Minnow trap



Sqn. 12, 195o c. R. BERGMAN MINNOW TRAP Filed June 27. 1947 I n vento rA tto rneys l Claim.

wg-,Tels eventon ,relates i "trap and" bucket having aerating means, aprimary object of the invention being toprovide an eicient frdpracticaldevice of 'this' character whicheis usable as a trapifor'e trappingminnows .in` -a stream, and thereafter readily adjusted `to act asI acontainer or bucket for the liveminnows itrapped therein wherein ,meansis provided for aerating `the water whenever necessary to` providesufficient air for the live minnows.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a device of thecharacter indicated above in which the combined trap and bucket isformed of transparent material so that the water and minnows within thedevice can be seen, and so that while the device is acting as a trap ina stream it will be substantially invisible in the water so as to moreelilciently trap the minnows.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a substantiallyimperforate minnow trap having smooth, highly finished walls, preferablyof plastic material, against which the minnows cannot bruise andotherwise injure themselves, as they do in the ordinary perforate wiretraps.

A further important object of this invention is to provide a device ofthe character indicated above which is susceptible of being constructedsubstantially entirely of plastic material, preferably transparent forthe purposes indicated, and to render the same more easily cleaned andnot subject to rust and corrosion.

Other important objects and advantageous features of this invention willbe apparent from the following description and the drawing thereuntoappended, wherein, merely for purposes of illustration, a presentlypreferred embodiment is set forth in detail.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a general side elevation of said embodiment, partly brokenaway to show internal construction.

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof, partly in section.

Figure 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line 3--3 of Figure 1, and

Figure 4 is a schematic view showing said embodiment, partly in sideelevation and partly in section, and in use as a trap submerged in astream.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the herein illustrated devicecomprises a cylindrical body 5 having an externally beaded open top 6,and an upset frusto-conical or` funnel bottom 1, terminating in anexternally threaded neck V8, for closa combined rflinnw` jPATENjT4giszaoff j ApplicatonJ-un 27, 1947," Serial N0. 757,395 i 'Hewsver whenSufficient ,ing which there is provided a threaded cap-9. Theentirebody, including the bottom land neck 18. re preierablyformedintegral of suitable transtreinent.1plastic materia1.` TheJ Capt is notused when the device iis, employedas a trap, withY the device ,i lying Lon its, side and I submerged on the bottom. I il of a stream. I I ,withthe funnel Abottom 'Ifacing downstreamto receive the rninnows` I2as;they,swir n,-upstream. v

minnows have been trapped in the device, the cap 9 is threaded on theneck 8, thereby closing the bottom 'I and covverting the device into aminnow bucket.

llhe device is provided with a conical transparent plastic cover I3having an inset depending annular flange I4 on its lower end arranged totelescope into the upper end 6 of the body 5, until said upper end isengaged by the overhang of the cover I3. The sides of the cover areprovided with a multiplicity of relatively large holes I5, and atsuitable intervals with integral external lugs I6 projecting therefromto facilitate handling and rotating the cover, in order to engage anddisengage bayonet slot I 'I formed in the ilange I4, with bayonet lugsI8 on the upper end of the cylinder 5, provided for holding the cover I3in place.

An aerating pump It is built into the cover I3 and comprises a verticalpump cylinder 2t having its upper end secured by suitable means 2| todepend from the apex of the cover I3, with its lower end positionedabout midway between the upper and lower ends of the cylinder 5. Intakeairholes 22 are provided in the upper part of the pump cylinder 2li andair outlet holes 23 are provided in the lower part of the pump cylinder,which is iitted with a piston 2l of soft material such as leather on apiston rod 25 passing through the apex of the` cover I3 and providedwith a handle '26 on its upper end.

As shown in Figure 4, where in use as a minnow trap the device is placedon the stream bottom IIJ on its side, with the funnel bottom l facingdownstream, the cap 9 having been removed to fis provided for conveyingthe device.

While the device is in use as a minnow bucket, with the cap 9 in placeon the neck 8 of the bottom 1, the water Within the cylinder 5 may beoccasionally aerated to supply the minnows therein With air wheneverthey show lack of -suicient air by coming to the surface, byreciprocating the pump handle 26. l A preferably metal bucket bailhandle 21 lhaving interne@ terminals 28 arranged .te enter Vholesfqrrndfip reiniqrcing bossesfg@ 'provided on opposite sides of the upperend of the cylinder 5, It will 'be noted that the device when made fromsuitable transparent plastic material is substantiallyunbreakable, beingresistant to all ordinary stresses and strains of service and beingsubjectA "to be broken only by excessive crust-ripslftlce,l exerted 5:'

.ing a hollow. cylindrical-body 4hai/ingegaan open uppenend, aperforated cover forclosingsaid upper 'endfor-medv withv per-forationsto pass w-ater .and air` but .retain minnows,rneans `for retaining said=cover-re1novably inv place, said cylindrical body. havingv afrusta-conical bottomterminating kati-its upperend--in= a reduced neck,-and a-removableclo'sre for said'neck, said f rusto-conicalbottorn actingas a funnel for the entrance of swimvmingmii/movesinto saidi vbody.while said body is 35 Number 4 reclining on a stream bottom with saidbottom facing downstream and said closure is removed from said neck,said frusto-conical bottom acting to retain water and mnnows trapped insaid body 5 while said body is in an erect position and said closure isin place on said neck, and aerating means for aerating the Water in saidbody to supply air for minnows therein while said body is in lise. es abucket, said aerating means 10 x esifiprising` apump comprising a pump:cylinder depending from said top into the interior of said Ypistonrodrising through said top and provided with. a handle..

CARL R. BERGMAN.

20 REFERENCES CITED "L "hev Vfollowing references are vof recnrd'in4 thefile of 'this'patenm IUNiIED. STATESPATENTS Name.. f Date `13e-465993`@et-Z Feb. 231915 504,526 Hemp `vSept.:5,21893 647,2571 Gray Apr. 10,n11960 139765134 ylllcike a OctJQj 1934

